The Five Least Vape-Friendly Cities in America

Vaping and E-cigarettes continue to gain a foothold in mainstream American society, but, as with any new technology or innovative idea, E-cigs have run into resistance. Opponents of vaping have proven to be more vocal (and more effective) in some American cities than in others, effectively outlawing the use of E-cigarettes in public.

Where are these unfriendly, anti-vaping towns? Listed right below, of course!

Hawai’i (the Big Island), HI

While friendly to surfers and flowered leis, the tropical 50th state is not so welcoming to E-cigs. Early in 2015, Hawai’i County (which is the entire Big Island) made using E-cigarettes illegal in public places – including outdoor spaces. Vapers here can forget about puffing at the beach or in a public park. Additionally, vaping is banned wherever smoking is prohibited (which, as you probably guessed, is just about everywhere).

To make matters worse, one state Senator (we won’t name names) wants to make that countywide ban statewide. As if the new rules aren’t restrictive enough, he also wants to outlaw using E-cigarettes anywhere in public (even areas where tobacco can be smoked) and he wants to levy an 80% tax on E-cig products. Fun guy, huh?

Manchester, NH

The State motto might be “Live Free or Die”, but apparently living free does not include vaping in public. Anywhere. New Hampshire has banned E-cig smoking from almost all public places, including workplaces, public buildings, restaurants, bars and retail stores.

Not that there are many retail E-cigarette stores to frequent, there are just three vape shops in all of Manchester.

Long Beach, CA

Unlike Hawaii, you can still get away with using your E-cigarette on the beach here, for now… But, if you want to use it anywhere else in public, you’re out of luck. The E-cig ban in Long Beach includes all workplaces, restaurants, bars, vape shops, and casinos. If some Senators have their way, Long Beach will be among many Californian cities with all-inclusive vaping bans.

Even neighboring Los Angeles has cracked-down on public vaping. However, La La land did make an exception when they enacted their law: E-cigarette use is permitted in E-cigarette retail locations and in theatrical productions. It’s great news for the vaping glitterati (remember Julia Louis-Dreyfus puffing away on an E-cig at the Golden Globes last year?), but not so great for the rest of us mere mortals.

New York City, NY

Vaping is not dead in the Big Apple – not by a long shot – but the onslaught of anti-vaping rhetoric and legislation-happy politicians is troublesome. The only public places where you can vape are in E-cig retail stores, and even that could be gone in a New-York-minute if the politicians get their way.

Recently a city councilmember launched a campaign to shut down vaping in E-cig shops, and ban the sale of flavored E-cigs and E-liquids. What!? No more Café Mocha in the city that never sleeps?

You can’t escape the insanity by crossing the bridge to New Jersey either. Newark has a ban on all public E-cigarette use (no vaping in bars, restaurants, workplaces, smoke shops, vape shops, or gambling facilities).

North Dakota

Yes, I know that North Dakota is a state and not a city. But, since this lovely place has state-wide laws against E-cigarettes, I thought it would be unfair to single out just one city.

Simply put, the state ban prohibits vaping in any public place. If you’re not in your own house, you can’t vape there. No restaurants, no stores, no bars, no casinos, no workplaces, nowhere. Not in Fargo, not in Bismarck, and not in Walhalla. If you happen to be travelling through, I hope you’re driving – your car might be the only safe place to vape.

But there is hope …

Before you get too depressed with the doomsday scenarios above and consider immigrating to Canada (it’s worse for vapers up there anyway), take comfort in the cities that welcome E-cigarette use with open arms, you can read about them here.

And, if you do live in one of these anti-E-cig cities, it’s time to fight back. Several great advocacy groups are lobbying politicians at all levels of government to keep vaping accessible, safe, and fun. Get involved and have your voice heard. Check out these organizations for more information about local events and campaigns:

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